Do Not Go Gently

[Black Philip]

There was only one person in the whole city who commanded the respect, friendship, and on some level, love needed to make Jake part with the ring, and that person was Sabrina. He couldn't refuse her, especially when she asked him so nicely despite her current state. Jake allowed his concern to surface more, and wondered if he could drop her at home since he was going to the Dante's Inferno instead of the Rabbit. Dante's and the parlor weren't so far apart. He heard Seb's comment, and was annoyed to say the least. Seb was not a member of the ward, an official employee of any district and had told Jake days before leadership wasn't for him. Now, just days later, he was telling Jake what to do with his ring?

Jake caught himself, as these thoughts were paranoid. Why did he care about the ring so much? Seb was right. He had no use for it. His main weapon was his two mental Disciplines. He needed Presence and Dominate to survive. Yet, he didn't want to give it up. Perhaps that was all the proof he needed that at least for now he should. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring, looking at it, and even touching the gem with his fingers. He wondered if he'd see anything, or feel any of it's power. Nothing happened, and afterwords he simply placed it in Sabrina's hand. All was well.

"I'd like to study it with you if that's okay? I've always been curious about it." He smiled at her, feeling a strange relief that he wasn't taking the ring home, but was also happy he had access to it. It was strange, and maybe indicative of how lonely he was, but in an odd way, the ring was all he had left of Lazarus, and for some reason he wanted something to remember him by. "Do you need a lift home Sabs? I'm going very near the parlor."

Lisa-Joe knew Jake was going to see Sam and patch things up with her. It was the only reason she wasn't more angry at him for not coming back with her. They'd talk tomorrow, and Jake would not enjoy that conversation.

[Harlequin]

"I'd love that." Her smile blossomed as Jake placed the ring in her open palm. In much the same way he'd done, she ran her long fingers over the object.

Unlike Jake, however, its power responded to her touch; a sensation akin to the scalding of a white-hot flame where the gem touched skin. Dragon's blood. Rare, dangerous. Not her friend, for sure.  She'd put a lot of herself into that necklace and blood magics were often...incompatible. No wonder it had broken.

The ring and the necklace went into different pockets, and she pulled a face, teeth clenched behind tight lips. She should have been more careful. Getting lazy in your old age. Getting soft like your belly. The Treacle whispered, unkind in her weakened state. It didn't like her like this, but it also didn't know how to care.

She pushed it down with a thought, and it quieted, sulking. She smiled down at Jake again and shook her head, "Thank you for the offer, but I...don't do well with cars." She held her hands close together, palms toward each other in a 'squishing' gesture, "The walk will do me good."

She placed a hand on the Vampire's shoulder, then, and leaned down to kiss the top of his head, "You were so brave up there. I'm so, so proud of you," she whispered, so only he could hear, before giving his shoulder a squeeze and straightening.

There was one thing she needed to know, though, before she left. And she could hear the hot bath and chilled bottle of white wine back at the Parlor calling to her, "What...happened to Lazarus?" This was asked to the group at large; she didn't want to make Jake relive a painful experience.

[Black Philip]

Jake felt like he had to be the one who answered. He'd made the decision to spare his life.

"He attacked our security forces," Jake explained, pointing to the two vampires he'd injured. Luckily, even a broken neck didn't kill a vampire, as long as it was still attached. Then he tried to murder Lisa-Joe here." Sabrina would see her surrounded by the Anarchs and Seb, looking shell shocked and pissed.

"I cut his hand off and Dominated him into a trance. I banished him and put a pain command into his brain that if reenters the city he'll feel agony like he's never experienced."

He was scared Sabrina would've wanted his death assured. Sparing him or killing him; he was bound to piss off someone.

[Harlequin]

Her disappointment showed only for a second before the smile was back. She reached up to let her hair down, fluffing it gently before shrugging with one shoulder.

"Well, we'll have to prepare for his return. Rats always come back." Until you snap their brittle necks, "Hopefully he learned better from you than from me." She grimaced. Sabrina was not proud of what she'd done to Lazarus. It had been a twisted, terrible thing; a perversion of her beliefs. She'd let her rage and hurt get the better of her.

"Goodnight Jake. Lisa-Joe. Uh...you." she nodded to each of them gathered in turn, ending on Sebastian with another little shrug, this one accompanied by a vaguely apologetic look. She did not have the energy to make nice with strangers. If he wanted to take it personally, that was his problem. Somehow, he didn't seem the type, though.

With that she left them, pushing open the same door through which Lazarus had made his escape, out into the alley and the night beyond.

[pinkroses]

“Seb,” the ancient filled in, with a small nod to the witch, recognising that they hadn’t been introduced yet. He was pleased that Jake had handed over the ring without argument. He had caught the hesitation and it concerned Seb. If Sabrina let him study it then Seb hoped she would keep a close eye on it. Something that small could easily go… missing. He wanted to thank Jake for giving it up, but it would probably come off as patronising or just remind Jake or what he’d just given up, so he left it.

His gaze followed Sabrina as she left through the door Lazarus had, half wondering if she’d had the same plan to go after the blonde as he had initially. But she looked shaken so hopefully she wouldn’t in her current state, despite Lazarus’.

“Are you ready to go?” Seb asked, casting his gaze back towards Lisa-Joe. He wanted to get her safe at home, but with everything that had happened, she might have more tasks to complete here before she would be happy to leave.

[Black Philip]

Lisa-Joe stood up with help from Seb and the Anarchs. She looked ready to go, and quickly shot Jake a hand wave. She looked at her friend and lover, and with a bit of her spunk back said, "Let's get the fuck out of here." She started to walk, taking Seb's hand and leading him and the other Anarchs back to their cars. Once they returned to the White Rabbit, Lisa-Joe would take Seb to her room. For once she wouldn't want sex. She did want him to be near though. For once she didn't feel like the baddest bitch in the room. For once she felt scared.
Jake waited until everyone else was gone. The theater was dead quiet now and he walked back to the main stage where Lazarus had sat. His mind was mostly thinking about the man who'd impacted his life so much in a short amount of time. He'd been fun and exciting. He'd been dotting and someways giving, and the sex between them had been consistently amazing. Those were the good parts. Then he remembered the bad.

He heard the blonde's testimony again in his mind, and his realization about the man's character flooded back. He couldn't love. It was a tragedy. Jake would need more time to heal, but he felt like how he'd handled this situation had been a good start. He'd taken back his power, and slayed his own dragon. He'd even got some treasure, although he had to share it.

As he locked up the theater, he heard a rustle and jumped, looking towards a dark alley. Killing him would've been final. There would be no coming back from it. What if Sabrina was right? If he came back he would probably kill Jake first thing. In the game of eternity Jake considered his true death might come at the hand of the man he spared. After all, it was a life for a life. Their scorecard was even. "See ya round, love," he whispered, as he got into a car.